William B. Bradshaw

Author, 'The Big Ten of Grammar: Identifying and Fixing the Ten Most Frequent Grammatical Errors'; 'Sinister Among Us' (a novel about demons); and 'Fundraising: the System that Works." See www.williambbradshaw.com

Nearly seventeen years ago, my friend and his wife lost their 34 year old son to cancer. A friend of the son who attended the funeral was doing mission work in the Ukraine and offered to take the son's clothing back with him to the impoverished nation

Jennifer Harvey

Associate Professor of Religion, Drake University

We seem to be maybe, finally, oh so slowly going through a sea change on lesbian and gay rights. Cultural acceptance -- incomplete still, of course -- came first, and it seems like maybe political and religious acceptance may follow.

Rev. Susan Russell

Episcopal priest and activist from Pasadena, Calif.

The public story of a public theologian publically evolving on LGBT equality is a kind of coming out. It's part of the tide turning, a beacon of hope to all those who wonder if that long held dream of a nation where liberty and justice for all is not just a pledge but a reality will ever be realized.

Steve McSwain

Author, Speaker, Conscious Leader, Spiritual Teacher, the "Voice of the SBNR"

In our increasingly scientific and pluralistic world, fundamentalist theology unravels at almost every seam.

Bob Burnett

Berkeley writer, retired Silicon Valley executive

Republican policy no longer represents the teachings of Jesus. The GOP favors the rich and ignores the poor, disadvantaged, sick, elderly, long-term unemployed, and other unfortunates. Republicans may be religious, but they're not Christians.

Doug Bandow

Senior Fellow, the Cato Institute

Iran is Exhibit #1 for the threat posed by Islamic fundamentalists gaining control of government. Iranian repression is increasing and the space available to regime opponents is diminishing.

Rev. Dr. Stephanie Buckhanon Crowder

Author, Cultural Critic, Noted Speaker

Moments of rejection are not limited to employment conditions or to Congress. The story of Pentecost in Acts (2:1-21) is couched within the selection of one disciple over another.

Zach J. Hoag

Author & Freelance Minister

It's time to talk about complementarianism, the theological root of the demeaning, misogynistic evangelical fruit that I surveyed recently.

Robert J. Morgan

Author, 'The Lord is My Shepherd'

The genuine followers of Jesus -- those who bear His name and espouse His values -- have flooded the world with good deeds, and their altruism is an apologetic for their truth.

Rev. Dr. Janet Edwards

Presbyterian minister

If community is like a beautiful quilt that binds all of us together, then marriage is one very important set of stitches that connect the fabric of humanity.

Rachel G. Hackenberg

Pastor and author

Modern American life has conflated the end of time with everyday time. We are living each day in a panic as though it is the last day. We experience each moment as though it is a deadline, an end, a final chance for productivity. We are not waiting for The End Of Time to live at the end of time.

Rick Hendrix

Philanthropist; Actor; Musician; Political Strategist

I learned many hard lessons before I made it in the music industry, and people like George Jones paved the way for me. George told me, "You will never do wrong for doing right -- even if they are bad people." It's a lesson I have learned to live by in my life, family and work.

Stephen Mansfield

New York Times best-selling author

As Jesus hung upon a Roman cross, he forgave one of those with him and promised him a place in paradise. This challenges our tendency to think of terrorists as pure evil, unrepentant and undeserving of good will.

Robert C. Crosby, D.Min.

Author, 'The Teaming Church: Ministry in the Age of Collaboration'

Many choose to view God as distant. Observable. Manageable. Close enough to consider. Distant enough to never impose nor interfere. From a distance, no wonder is ever too wonderful, no power too powerful, no master ever too masterful.

Ron Nikkel

President & CEO, Prison Fellowship International

It was said of Jesus of Nazareth that he was the ultimate Word of God -- the flesh and blood embodiment of God's love and justice, "full of grace and truth" (St. John 1:14) -- and what he said, is what he meant, and what he lived.

Ali A. Rizvi

Pakistani-Canadian writer, physician and musician

Just like Judaism is a religion that can exist independently from Jewish ethnicity or Jewish culture, Islam is a religion, and even though Muslims are ethnically and racially varied, there really is such a thing as a Muslim culture that can exist separately from Islam.